Donald B. Harris

Don Harris has been writing popular reflections on Spain since 1997. He fell in love with the Spanish culture over forty years ago, when he stepped ashore in Spain as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy. For a time, he and his wife Ruth raised their young family among the sherry bodegas of El Puerto de Santa María (Cádiz). As they enjoyed life with their sons in a Spanish neighborhood, they grew to appreciate the intimate dimension of Spanish life, where children are cherished and family ties are central.

After retiring from the Chaplain Corps as a captain, Don founded LaTienda.com with his wife and their three sons. They all visit Spain regularly. The company is now one of the finest providers of Spanish food in the U.S., supporting artisanal and small family firms. In 2009, Don received the Admiral Pedro Menéndez Friend of Spain Award from the Society of Spain for his outstanding leadership and dedication on behalf of Spain and Spanish culture.

Don was also the founder of what is now the worldwide Navy CREDO retreat program; the Credo/Esperanza community; and director of the Credo Institute. His 1994 book, That's How the Light Gets In, is an absorbing exploration of the early days of Credo and its evolution through both time and place.